By Frankie Barron

A rare bird made an appearance at a wildlife haven during an announcement about future plans.

Staff at the RSPB Lodmoor Nature Reserve in Weymouth set up an exhibition at the viewing shelter to give information on the organisation's enhancement plans for the site.

Significant habitat works at the reserve are in the pipeline to rejuvenate the reedbed and enhance the saltmarsh.

Attendance at the event was boosted by the appearance of a very rare Long Billed Dowitcher from America, which attracted a flock of birdwatchers. The enthusiasts also showed interest in the exhibition.

Luke Phillips, RSPB visitor operations manager for Dorset, hopes that the improvements the RSPB has planned for the land will encourage more rare birds like this to the area, as well as the Great White Egret, to breed at the reserve.

If successful it will be the first time in Dorset, as it is a breed that only started nesting in the UK a few years ago.

Mr Phillips said: “We’re planning to improve the ecology for birds as well as making changes to encourage more visitors to the area to help support the work of the RSPB. One of our aims is to provide stopping spots for migrating birds to feed during their journeys, which will see them travel thousands of miles.”

Work on the Lodmoor reed beds started this month and will see a divide between the top and lower beds to maintain different water levels.

A new bridge and sluice gate have been funded by Dorset Council and will be installed to separate the reedbeds.

A footpath which crosses the site is now closed to allow work to be completed.

Meanwhile, plans for the lower reedbed extend over three years.

Cattle will be brought in to graze the land, before eventually being removed so that water levels can be raised again and the reedbed will grow.

Mr Phillips said: “Then comes the best bit: we re-flood the land and everything springs to life with new activity as birds begin to feed in their new habitat.”

Dinah Ellis, chairman of Friends of Lodmoor Country Park who attended the exhibition, benefits from the nature reserve as she often sees birds visiting the park.

She said: “I’m very keen to encourage wildlife on our side.”